Government Under the Australian Constitution

Government Under
the Australian Constitution

Multiple Choice

What was NOT a reason to federate?

• Creation of a defence force

• Nationalised railroads

• Nationalised healthcare

• Establishing immigration controls

• Rising national pride

So... how does our Government work?

Multiple Choice

How many levels of government does Australia have?

• 1

• 3

• 7

• 10

​Responsibilities of each level-

Multiple Choice

Which is NOT a responsibility of State and Territory Governments?

• Public Transport

• Post

• Schools

• Hospitals

​Raising Revenue

Responsibility for Law Making

Section 51 of the Australian Constitution contains a long list of areas in which the federal Parliament can make laws. For some of these—defence, foreign affairs, immigration etc—the federal Parliament has the exclusive – sole – power to make laws. 

The concurrent powers – shared powers – of the federal and state parliaments include education, health and water management.

If a state parliament and the federal Parliament pass conflicting laws on the same subject, then the federal law overrides the state law

Quick Quiz!

Multiple Choice

Which level of government collects revenue from property rates?

• Federal

• State & Territory

• Local (and the ACT)

Multiple Choice

Defence is the responsibility of which level of government?

• State & Territory

• Federal

• Local

Multiple Choice

If a state parliament and the federal Parliament pass conflicting laws on the same subject, then...

• the state law overrides the federal law.

• the federal law overrides the state law.

• The other states and territories vote on which law should be kept.

Multiple Choice

How many state governments are there?

• 6

• 8

• 1

• 7

The Parliament and the Judiciary are independent of each other. This allows each to keep a check on the actions of the other. However, the Parliament, Executive and Judiciary are not completely separate; for example, the Parliament can create Federal courts and the Executive appoints High Court judges.

Multiple Choice

Is there another step before a bill becomes a law?

• YES

• NO

• Statute Law: Made by the Parliament
  
  

• Common Law: Made by judges in court (using precedent)

  
  

• Delegated Law: Made by people or departments given power by parliament.

Poll

How are you traveling?

• Too much information!

• Doing alright.

• I think I get it.

• No problems!

Quick Quiz!

Multiple Choice

The Parliament has the power to...

• make and change law

• put law into action

• make judgements on law

Multiple Choice

Which branch of the government is responsible for interpreting the law?

• Judiciary

• Executive

• Parliament

Multiple Choice

The current Government is formed by which party?

• The Coalition

• The Greens

• The United Australia Party

• The Labor Party

Multiple Choice

What two houses make up Federal Parliament?

• Congress and the Senate

• the House of Representatives and House of Lords

• the House of Commons and House of Lords

• the House of Representatives and the Senate

Fill in the Blanks

The Queen's (or King's) representative in Australia is called the...

Multiple Choice

How many senators do states and territories have?

• 2

• 7

• 12

• This is a flawed question.

• 151

Multiple Choice

The courts are part of the...

• Executive

• Judiciary

• Parliament

• The thingy

Multiple Choice

The Senate is responsible for forming Government.

• TRUE

• FALSE

​Great work everyone!